Radnor, Pa. - The Marywood University men's soccer team dropped a close 1-0 contest to Cabrini University on Wednesday. The Pacers only allowed a penalty kick goal to a team that reached the Second Round of the 2017 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championships.
The Pacers fought valiantly and held the game to a scoreless tie for 77 minutes before the Cavaliers scored the decider off of a penalty kick. In the 78th minute, the Pacers were called for a handball inside the box off of a thrown-in. Cabrini's Jared Irwin took the kick and put it in the back of the net to propel his team to the lead.
Much of the first half was contested from the midfield as both teams only had a handful of shot opportunities. The Cavaliers attempted to break things open early with a shot by Andre Justin in the second minute but had their shot saved by Marywood goalie
Mike Gallagher. Both teams only delivered one more shot on goal in the first 45 minutes of play, with the Pacers' lone attempt coming from
Aram Aghababian in the 30th that was saved by Cabrini goalie Anthony Zampirri.
The second half proved to be more aggressive than the first, with both teams taking the ball to the goal more often. Marywood attempted to strike first off a shot from
Carlos Perez that sailed over the bar in the 47th minute. The two teams traded shots back and forth throughout the half, before the Cavaliers pulled ahead with the deciding penalty kick. Marywood's lone shot on goal for the half came from
Cody Gangaware just minutes before the PK chance.
Throughout the contest, Gallagher made six saves in goal for the Pacers to keep things close. The Cavaliers out-shot the Pacers 13-8 and put seven of those on goal compared to two from Marywood. They also tabbed more penalty kicks, 6-3.
The Pacers return to conference action at home against Wesley College on Oct. 13.
